Water and Sanitation for Syrian Refugees and Their Lebanese Hosts

15.07.2017
- 15.06.2020
The crisis in Syria has a significant impact in Lebanon. The country is home to over one million Syrian refugees. Basic needs are unmet due to this unprecedented population growth and lack of public facilities. The SDC supports a project of the Lebanese Red Cross on water and sanitation for Syrian refugees and host communities in the Akkar Governorate bordering Syria.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Lebanon |
WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION DISASTER PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS
Disaster prevention and preparedness
|
15.07.2017 - 15.06.2020 |
CHF 1'100'000 |
Lebanon: education and care in a neighbourhood shared by Lebanese, Syrians and Palestinians

01.08.2016
- 31.03.2021
The inhabitants of Hay el Gharbé in southern Beirut live in a very precarious situation. Since 2012, a number of Syrian refugees have joined their neighbourhood. The SDC supports the Lebanese NGO Tahaddi, which has made a real difference in people’s lives here – such as with its education centre, helping a large number of children to (re)discover schooling and escape their daily hardships.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Lebanon |
Education Health
Primary education
Primary health care
Medical services
|
01.08.2016 - 31.03.2021 |
CHF 1'270'000 |
Project completed
Rebuilding beyond the crisis

01.01.2016
- 31.12.2016
The scope of the destruction in Syria is staggering, and the number of people left without shelter continues to grow. Since the start of the crisis, the SDC has donated CHF 13.4 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which is responsible for coordinating all reconstruction-related activities in that country. In addition, Swiss experts have developed technical standards for the long-term relocation of displaced people who will eventually return home.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Iraq Jordan Lebanon Morocco Syria Tunisia Yemen |
Migration
Forced displacement (refugees, IDP, human trafficking)
|
01.01.2016 - 31.12.2016 |
CHF 6'000'000 |
Project completed
Rehabilitation of schools in northern Lebanon

16.11.2015
- 31.01.2020
Following the rehabilitation of 28 schools in northern Lebanon in the first phases of the project, the SDC is expanding its engagement to 24 other schools in the same region. The rehabilitation works are being carried out in cooperation with the Lebanese authorities to help them cope with the large influx of refugee children from Syria.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Lebanon |
Education Humanitarian Assistance & DRR Other
Primary education
Education facilities and training
Reconstruction and rehabilitation (till 2016)
Sector not specified
|
16.11.2015 - 31.01.2020 |
CHF 3'718'000 |
Project completed
Swiss support for ICRC operations in Syria

01.01.2015
- 31.12.2015
Since it began in 2011, the Syrian crisis has turned into one of the worst humanitarian disasters worldwide since the end of World War II. The ICRC is one of the few international organisations that manage to operate inside the country. The SDC is using the ICRC to provide food, access to water and healthcare to millions of Syrians caught up in the conflict.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Iraq Jordan Lebanon Syria |
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR Human rights Rule of Law - Democracy - Human rights
Material relief assistance
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
|
01.01.2015 - 31.12.2015 |
CHF 8'300'000 |
Project completed
Rehabilitation of schools in northern Lebanon

15.07.2014
- 31.03.2016
Following the rehabilitation of 13 schools in northern Lebanon in the first phase of the project, the SDC is expanding its engagement to 15 other schools in the same region. The rehabilitation works are being carried out in cooperation with the Lebanese authorities to help them cope with the large influx of refugee children from Syria.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Lebanon |
Education Humanitarian Assistance & DRR Other
Primary education
Reconstruction and rehabilitation (till 2016)
Sector not specified
|
15.07.2014 - 31.03.2016 |
CHF 1'350'000 |
Project completed
Cash support for families hosting Syrian refugees

01.06.2012
- 31.12.2013
Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria in March 2011, hundreds of thousands of people, mostly women and children, have fled to neighbouring countries. Especially in Lebanon, many refugees are living with local, mostly poor host families. The SDC direct action “Cash for Hosting” supports these families and the municipalities where they live through cash transfers for specific purposes.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Lebanon |
Migration
Forced displacement (refugees, IDP, human trafficking)
Migration generally (development aspects and partnerships)
|
01.06.2012 - 31.12.2013 |
CHF 1'300'000 |
Decent Work for Migrants in the Middle East
15.07.2019
- 30.06.2023
This program contributes to decent work opportunities for migrants and refugees in the Middle East which is one of the largest migrant hosting regions globally due to economic demands and displacement from conflict. It complements the focus on Asian migrants with migrants from Africa and seek closer partnership with the private sector. Due to its relevant expertise and experience in decent work and fair recruitment, Switzerland is well placed to contribute to an improved protection and an enhanced wellbeing of migrant workers and self-reliance for refugees, to maximize the productive potential of migration, and to counter irregular and unsafe migration.
Small Actions Credit Line (Quick Impact)
01.03.2019
- 31.12.2021
The Small Actions Credit Line (Quick Impact) is a humanitarian instrument of the Swiss Embassy's cooperation office that allows a fast response to requests for moderate one-time funding of limited duration. It enables the Embassy's cooperation office in Lebanon to fund small scale development or humanitarian activities that addresses needs of refugees, IDPs, vulnerable migrants or communities at risk, supports the strategic strengthening of the portfolio of the Swiss Cooperation Strategy Middle East and which contribute to the visibility of Swiss presence in the region.
Project completed
Allocation of SDC Funding to ICRC Operations in 2019
01.01.2019
- 31.12.2019
In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to ICRC operations allows the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to respond proactively and to provide immediate protection and assistance for people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence.
SDC Education Fund
01.01.2019
- 31.12.2021
As part of its increased commitment for Education and of the implementation of SDC’s Education Strategy, the SDC launches an Education Fund in order to incentivize innovation and the application of new approaches in basic education/vocational skills development and through educational activities across sectors. Innovation can have a catalytic effect on the effectiveness of programmes in and through education. Education is a core enabler for sustainable development and is an important lever in Switzerland’s commitment to promote human and economic development, peace and stability.
LEB – Improved Water Resources Monitoring and Integrated Water Resources Management in the North of Lebanon
01.07.2017
- 30.09.2021
For over five years now, the Syria crisis is continuing to affect middle-income neighbouring countries. As a result, Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. The weak governance of the Government has been worsened with the burden of the refugees from Syria and Palestine who use the same overstretched infrastructure and public services. The project aims at enabling the water authorities to better manage the water sector for the benefit of the vulnerable communities in the North of the country.